One truth

1st update

2009-09-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

Hello-its all been a bit manic, but I'm here! I've been in Paris for 6 days now, and its been such a whirlwind.

I spent the first three days sleeping on my team leader's sofa, as the flat I was going to move into didn't have a single piece of furniture. Then, when I moved into the flat with my room-mate on Tues, I discovered that she has rented a one bedroom flat instead of one with two bedrooms. I have graciously been given the bedroom, while my flatmate is in the corner of the living area, her bed blocked off by a wardrobe. My flatmate (having moved all her worldly possessions into the flat) seems to think its fine, but I'm considering my options (current options=sticking it out where I am). Please do pray for this situation.

In other news, I have been thrilled at how quickly my French has come back. It is such an answer to prayer that people have been surprised at how well I can speak ,and without much of an accent. It is however, so much more tiring than I thought it would be, having to speak french ALL of the time. I have just about navigated the metro system, and have been to the Eiffel Tower, just to make sure I really am in Paris and its not all a dream!

In terms of my faith, this past week has been tough. I have had to slow right down, really needing to know God with me in every moment. The temptation is to become overwhelmed by my circumstances, all of which are so far out of my control. I have to trust that GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING, even when I can't see or understand His plans. Geographically, Paris isn't that far away from the UK, but I feel a million miles away from everything and everyone that I know. And yet the truth is that God remains the same, wherever I am. Please pray that I would endure these trials, remembering in my heart that Jesus IS worth it.

Wow, goodbyes really take it out of me!

2009-08-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days, I've prioritised spending time with people who are important to me. Its been wonderful to spend time with friends, family and ex-work colleagues. From picnics in the park, prayer on Brighton beach, playing sardines in our church building and even a great british tea-party, we've done it all.

Tonight as I stood up in church for the last time until Christmas, I was asked two great questions that really got me thinking. What am I most excited about, and what am I most scared about? And it really boils down to one thing; Jesus means everything to me. He is Lord and Saviour, and it breaks my heart that so many people don't know Him. I can't think of anything I would rather be doing with my life than encouraging and equipping students to live out their faith, to share Christ with their peers.

And what am I most scared about? Well, pretty much everything! I'm sad at leaving the people who know me and love me, apprehensive about moving to a new city in a new country and building my life from scratch again. I am not a brave person, but as I take this leap into the unknown, I know that I do not go alone. There is One who goes before me, who has good works prepared in advance for me to do and many lessons to teach me along the way. Praise God for the opportunity I have to learn to depend on Him alone, as everything else that I know is stripped away. There will be good times, and there will be hard times, but God remains the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is faithful and my hope is in Him.

Introducing...

2009-08-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

Team Paris 09-10

Tom, Matt, Gethin, Keith, Andreea, Sara, Anna, Debs

Its a real priviledge to be serving alongside these guys. We're such a mixed bunch, all with different characters and gifts, and I'm looking forward to seeing what God does both in us and through us over the coming year.

ready, get set....!

2009-08-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

What a couple of weeks!

As I type, the life I had in Hove now lies boxed-up, ready to be sorted through and re-packed into a suitcase. I've moved out of my flat, quit my job, am selling my car and will no longer serve as a youth leader at church. Daily life as I knew it on the sunny south-east coast, is no more.

Its a wonderfully strange thing to have almost reached the departure date. My one-way ticket to Paris has been booked for ages, but the reality of what I'm about to embark on only just seems to be sinking in. It seems like I've been getting ready to go for a while, but now I'm actually going!

I've just spent the week in Kent, at the IFES orientation conference. I got to meet the rest of the team (8 of us in total) as well as spend time getting to know people in other teams from countries all over Europe. It was SUCH an encouragement to spend time with others who share the vision;

students reaching students with the good news of Jesus Christ
students growing into life-long disciples of Christ
students serving and strengthening the Church

We had brilliant teaching on servanthood and perseverance (reflections to come) as well as time to get to know each other and think through the many challenges that lie ahead in our ministry.

Summer so far

2009-07-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hello again, poor neglected blog.

Summer is here and there's been lots going on recently. I've just come back from a weekend away with my church youth group. 60 of us went away to the Isle of Wight for a weekend of fellowship fun and teaching on the Kingdom of God. It was great to see the church really working together as a family, to see the body of Christ really doing its job!

Paris preparations continue. I've been getting my head around the fact that fundraising is a part of my ministry, and therefore public speaking can no longer be avoided. God has been so gracious in teaching me to rely on Him as I speak about what He's called me to do in Paris. I am also realising just how difficult its going to be to leave such a brilliant church family.

Still a long way off in money terms and nowhere to live yet, but daily I am learning to press into God more and more. Praise Him for His unending faithfulness!

La Radio

2009-07-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Somewhere, buried deep deep down in the back of brain, is all the French I've ever learned. In an attempt to bring it out into the daylight, I decided it would be a good idea to "get my ear in" again, by listening to some french radio.

So far, I've learnt about fish farming and politics in China.

Its perhaps time to play around with the tuning button on my radio...

How long?!

2009-06-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

People warned me this would happen. One day its 6 months until I leave, then 4, and now it appears I've hit the 10 week marker. Where did all the time go?!

Sorry the blog has been a bit quiet lately, there is just still SO much I need to organise (which I won't bore you with here). Each day seems to bring with it a to do list longer than the one the day before. I simply had no idea how much work is involved in relocating life to a different country.

Proper updates coming soon!

IFES prep day

2009-06-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday at the IFES office in Oxford, for a day's training on all things "mission in Europe". It was great to spend time thinking through practical things like fundraising, health+travel insurance, budgeting, learning the language and how to find somewhere to live. It was also really helpful to look at things like attitudes and reactions to (the inevitable!) culture shock, team dynamics and how to keep going as a Christian in a new culture.

Sitting on the train on the way home, I couldn't help but be massively aware of my weaknesses. As the departure date for Paris draws ever closer, so does the temptation to become overwhelmed by all the new challenges that lie ahead.

If I learnt one thing yesterday, its that I will only get through this if I spend EVERY DAY with Jesus, knowing and experiencing the all-sufficiency of God's grace.

A good place to be, I think

France; the shocking facts

2009-06-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

I thought you might like to know a bit more about the country I'll be calling home from September. When I did my research, I couldn't quite believe what I was discovering about our European neighbours. The statistics are scary. (taken from the Joshua Project)

The population of France is 60 million.
Within that, only 0.8% are Evangelical Christians.
33% of the population is considered to be in an unreached people group. Thats a THIRD of the population!

The following quote is taken from the IFES website;

"The growth of sects in France has aroused suspicion and prompted moves to ban them. But many people also view mainline Christian churches as sects.University authorities generally refuse Christian student groups permission to meet on campus. Some people are spiritually hungry, but most think the gospel message is irrelevant."

I cannot believe how spiritually dead France is. The real picture is that the whole of Europe is crying out for missionaries, for men and women to devote themselves to spreading the Gospel. But no matter how overwhelming the facts and figures appear, we have a God who is living and active, who longs to bring people to Himself. And this is where we find our hope for these people. Please join with me in praying for the countries that are right on our doorstep, but so often overlooked in terms of outreach.

Hello and welcome to my new blog!

2009-06-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

I'm heading off to Paris in September to join the IFES Interaction team for 1-2yrs and thought this would be a great way to keep people up to speed with what I'm up to. I am thrilled to be heading out to France to get stuck in and serve the GBU (National Christian student movement), drawing alongside the work God is doing in and through university students in the capital.

Having come to know and love Jesus at University, I have first hand experience of the importance of Christian Unions as mission teams. I consider it such a priviledge to be able to use my time, energy and gifts to serve God's Kingdom in this way!

I'm hoping to update the blog once a week, but we'll have to see how that works out! I would love to hear your comments or any questions you might have.